2018 Subaru Impreza - First Drive Review

[Subaru Owners Club]

The Subaru Impreza has an image problem. While its name has connotations of lairy wings, bonnet scoops and gold alloy wheels, in recent years it’s been transformed into a sensible Toyota Auris rival

Subaru has grown up but admits it has a “rally hangover” to get over. It wants to be seen as a forerunner in safety technology, known for its no-nonsense four-wheel drives and a spiritual replacement for Land Rover now that the British brand has moved upmarket. It’s more Volvo than hot hatch. While the Impreza name badge might be Subaru’s best known, it accounts for a tiny part of the firm’s sales in Europe – the Outback, Forester and XV all sell in bigger numbers here.

The new 2018 model is based on an all new platform, set to underpin more Subaru models in the future. Just two powertrains will be coming to the UK in the first instance: 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol boxer engines, both paired with a CVT Lineartronic transmission and four-wheel-drive.

First impressions

Bland from some angles and plain ugly from others, it’d be a stretch to describe the new Impreza as attractive, in our eyes. Typically Japanese in its approach, the Impreza is lower, wider and longer than before, giving it a more conventional appearance than its almost MPV-esque predecessor. It’ll be available in a choice of six colours in the UK: the standard white, while the rest are available for £550 – the only optional extra available from the factory.

Most buyers won’t be too fussed about the Impreza’s colour or design, however. They’ll care more about how safe it is. It’s scored record-breaking results in Japanese crash tests, thanks in part to a 40 percent increase in body strength as well as a host of innovative safety systems.

One of which is Eyesight, which made its debut on the Subaru Outback. This acts as, ahem, a second pair of eyes for the driver, monitoring other vehicles, pedestrians and lane markings. It consists of a range of tech to help avoid or reduce the severity of a collision, including: lane keep assist, a mildly annoying lane departure warning and pre-collision braking. This all do largely as they say on the tin.

Another clever feature is the pre-collision throttle management which, if you’re parked and go on the accelerator towards a wall or another car, will cut the gas and ask if you really want to drive forwards into said wall or car.

First seat

While it’d be a push to describe the new Impreza’s interior as ‘premium’, it’s certainly a significant step up from the outgoing model. Typical Subaru buyers want an interior that can cope with wet dogs and muddy wellies, so will forego soft-touch materials in favour of an interior that will stand up to a bit of abuse.

Having said that, there are more soft-touch plastics than before, and there’s certainly plenty of kit. An eight-inch infotainment screen dominates the dash, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as a DAB radio. It’s worth noting that there’s no sat nav as standard – indeed, you can’t even pay extra for one. Subaru reckons sat navs are a thing of the past; why would you want to pay £1,500 for a bit of kit that will soon get updated, when your phone will do a better job?

You can’t spec leather seats, either, but the heated fabric front seats are perfectly comfortable, while those in the back are unlikely to complain about a lack of space. Practicality is something the new Impreza does very well: the 385-litre boot is decent, while access is easy. If you’re looking to transport bulky objects, the rear seats do fold down 60/40, but not entirely flat.

First drive

We mentioned the two engine choices available in the new Impreza in the UK. The entry-level 1.6-litre provides a meagre 114hp… it’s adequate around town, but soon starts to feel strained at higher speeds, hampered in part by the CVT transmission. If the majority of your miles are below around 40mph, it’ll be fine – it’s smooth to drive, with little vibration through the pedals or steering wheel.

We’d opt for the larger 2.0-litre, however. For an extra £1,000, you get 156hp and paddles to mimic conventional gear ratios. While still vocal when pushed, it’s much happier accelerating towards motorway speeds. Although Subaru admits that it’d be nice to offer a manual option, the CVT is necessary for its complex EyeSight system to work.

We suspect that the chassis is excellent, but neither powertrain really does it justice. The majority of its customers like four-wheel-drive for the extra security it offers in all conditions, says Subaru, not necessarily because they want to drive fast on twisty roads or even venture far off road. The steering is fine – nicely weighted – and the suspension does a commendable job of soaking up lumps and bumps.

Economy wise, the Impreza is acceptable, no more. The 1.6-litre returns a combined 44.1mpg, dropping to 42.8mpg for the 2.0-litre (a sacrifice worth making, in our opinion). That equates to 145g/km and 152g/km CO2. No diesel or front-wheel-drive models make it a difficult choice for fleet users, a market Subaru probably ought to be tapping into if it wants to extend beyond its current niche.

First verdict

The 2018 Subaru Impreza is fundamentally a good car. You get the impression that a lot of time, money and effort has gone into engineering it to be safe and last longer than a rival European hatchback. Subaru customers are very loyal, and we can see why they’d trade their old Impreza in for a new one. It’s much better than its predecessor. The interior is a marked improvement, while the drive is safe if a tad unrewarding.

Attracting new customers to the brand might be where it’ll struggle, however. The powertrains let it down, not offering the choice of competitors. It’s not particularly good in any area, either, unless you really want four-wheel-drive and Subaru’s EyeSight safety system.

Whether the Impreza is a success will come down to the price. Starting at £23,995 for the 1.6 (the 2.0-litre is £24,995), it’s getting close to the equivalent BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Sounds like Subaru’s shot itself in the foot? Let’s not jump the gun just yet. It’ll come down to finance deals, because that’s how most of us buy new cars. We’re yet to find out how much it’ll cost each month but, unless it’s surprisingly cheap, we suspect only a loyal few will part with their cash for the new Impreza.

Star rating verdict: ★★★☆☆

Five rivals

• Honda Civic
• Mazda 3
• Toyota Auris
• Citroen C4 Cactus
• Ford Focus

Prices

Subaru Impreza 1.6 SE Lineartronic £23,995

Subaru Impreza 2.0 SE Lineartronic £24,995

In pictures: 2018 Subaru Impreza